Bayonne to St Jean Pied de Port

Last night I had a terrible headache due to my cold. I rummaged around in my first aid kit, which has everything in it except for paracetamol. I’d packed ibuprofen by accident and i can’t take that stuff! Note for next time. Don’t pack while jet lagged.

We’d set our alarms for 5.45am and sprung out of bed. Breakfast wasn’t until 7am but we’d arranged it for 6.30am. But the night staff didn’t pass this on to the day staff.

We were itching and raring to go, but we really wanted food first. While we waited we helped ourselves to some coffee, yoghurts, and juice.

Finally, just before 7am, they brought out food. We had to leave at 7 to catch our train, but the sight of muesli, pastries, meats and cheeses was too much to ignore.

So we spend another ten minutes scoffing and by the time we were ready to leave, we were late.

We sprinted to the train station, barely noticing the bridge reflecting on the calm water, or the brilliant day unfolding in front of us.

My mind was too busy working on backup plans for if we missed our train. Taxi? Bus? Maybe that pilgrim shuttle if I can find it online?

Mike navigated us to the station without getting lost, yay, and with a few minutes to spare.

But we had an e-ticket. The barriers don’t accept e-tickets. The was no one in the office to ask so we panicked trying to find out how to convert it to a ticket the machine could read. There weren’t even any barriers we could jump

.I thought we could ask someone to let us onto the platform. As i went to ask, the platform doors opened. Voila! We didn’t need a ticket after all. You’d think after a week our jetlag might have passed!

Anyway, we made it and are sitting on the train as I type.

We’ve just arrived in St Jean Pied de Port. Now to climb the Pyranees! Stay tuned!